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What can I cast in ImPRESSive Putty?

Posted by
ComposiMold
on June 11, 2019

We had someone ask some great questions about ImPRESSive Putty. I wanted to share the answers with you.

First, what is
the ImPRESSive Putty Activator?

The Activator
is a glycerin based mixture. The greasiness is the activator/mold release. This
is what gives the ImPRESSive Putty the power to be re-melted over and over
again. It also acts as a mold release when casting. So even though it feels
greasy, that's a good thing.

If when you re-melt
the Putty, there’s clumpiness or parts that don’t seem to re-melt after
kneading the putty for a minute or two, then you probably need a little more
activator. It takes very little. We have activator available, although a little
bit of vegetable oil will also work. So put a few drops on your hands and then
kneed the putty until it is mixed in.

What happens if
the ImPRESSive Putty is sticking? My guess is that the ImPRESSive Putty won’t
stick after it cools. While hot it is scary because it will stick but when it
cools it usually comes off. This stickiness when warm is a good thing because
it lets you get a better mold shape. Some materials to be careful of are paper
products. The paper, if it’s not sealed will absorb the activator and stick to
the putty. So seal the paper with shellac or glue or other.

So what can you
cast with ImPRESSive Putty?

Ha! That’s a
long list! Great question. Here’s a lot of the options for molding materials in
ImPRESSive Putty. This list is not complete so if you’re thinking of something else
to cast in the ImPRESSive Putty try it J, and let me know.

Wax: very
popular with Encaustic Painters, candle makers. I like soy wax candles.

Soaps: low melt
soaps work well. High melt soaps will also work, but let it cool below 200 F
before pouring into the molds.

Polymer clay
(just press in)

Epoxy Resins:
some clear resins create a whitish surface-wipe/clean off surface activator
with denatured alcohol first or add colorants to the resin)

Epoxy
clay/Epoxy putty

Urethane/Polyurethane:
fast cure urethanes work well for sizes up to about 4 cubic inches. Some
urethanes react easily with moisture so be careful

The type of
things that cannot be cast in ImPRESSive Putty are things that are mostly water
or create a lot of heat. For example, slow cure concrete is a challenge because
it will pull the moisture out of the ImPRESSive Putty. Fast cure
concretes/cements will cure before pulling moisture away so those will work. Plus
materials that are well above 200 F can melt the Putty. You can chill the mold
before and during casting to get up a little higher for some materials (like
very high temperature waxes).

Let me know what questions you have. I'm sure if you have the question, then others do to. So please ask!